Multi-protocol, multi-interface communications device testing system

ABSTRACT

A multi-protocol, multi-interface communications device testing system is disclosed. The system simultaneously control communication channels of a communications platform though multiple Interface Protocols, such as TDM, IP and Telephony Application Program Interfaces. The system also allows the creation of multi Interface Protocol Test Scenarios, and displays the results of executing The test results from all Protocols Interfaces and records and displays results.

REFERENCE TO CD

This application includes a computer program listing on one CD, which isincorporated herein by reference. The CD contains one file namedsourcecode.txt.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems for testing telecommunicationsequipment, and in particular, to systems that automatically test theinteroperability, features and load testing of complex, multi-interface,multi-protocol communications platforms, Next Generation Networks andNext Generation Networks Components.

BACKGROUND

Manufacturers of Communications devices (e.g., routers, PBX,communications servers, communications platforms) and applicationdevelopers have adopted new open standards protocols such as TAPI,JTAPI, S.100 and CSTA, or developed their own proprietary protocols. Asnew products implementing these protocols are delivered to themarketplace, the need for device and software manufacturers to test forconformance to standards, performance and stability, as well asinteroperability with applications, is increasingly critical. Whentesting complex communications and telephony systems, different types oftests must be performed to simulate all of the possible conditions andstates the target system encounters during “live” operation. Thisvariety of testing ensures that a telecommunications or computertelephony system is ready to provide a high-level of quality service.This testing also ensures that the target system continues to provideappropriate service during full operation. It is desirable for a testingsystem to be able to perform each of the following types of testing:

FUNCTIONALITY AND CONFORMANCE TESTING—The conformance testing refers towhether an application/system performs according to the relatedspecifications. Manufacturers must ensure that their products areinteroperable with applications that implement the same claimedstandards. For example, a TAPI 3.X service provider should work with allthe TAPI 3.X applications on the market and a TAPI 3.X applicationshould work with all the TAPI 3.X service providers. In addition,interoperability between multiple applications sharing the sameresources is critical. For example, with regard to applicationprogramming interfaces, it is important to ensure compatibility amongapplications from different vendors that perform distinct functions(e.g., call control, billing, etc) that share the same resources andwhich are integrated into a single solution. The service provider andthe application need to be tested as mission critical software in orderto offer the needed reliability and stability. To achieve this goal,testing must be done at both the service provider and application level.

LOAD AND STRESS TESTING—Telecommunications systems break down mostfrequently due to intensive usage or “load” situations. As a result, itis important to load the telecommunications system using real-worldtraffic, which simulates the actions, usage patterns, and media types(e.g. voice, fax, data, video) of real users during busy hours. Loadtests should also analyze the responses that are returned from thetarget system to ensure that they are completely accurate. If systemdegradation or failure occurs, it must be determined why the problemoccurred and it is necessary to pinpoint exactly what caused the problemin the target system.

ENDURANCE TESTING—Endurance testing measures the capability of thesystem under test to preserve its designed functionality when working inreal world conditions over a long period of time.

REGRESSION TESTING—Hardware and software for telecommunications systemsare upgraded periodically to add new system features or correct existingbugs. Whenever these types of changes are made to complex softwaresystems, a tremendous risk exists because these changes or additions tothe target system could corrupt its existing features. This problemrequires the comprehensive testing of all the related features of thetarget system. Due to the amount of time required to manually performthese tests, it is critical to automate this regression testing process.

Various systems for performing communications testing are known in theart, such as the ChannelGauge system from G3 Nova Technologies, Inc. ofWest Lake Village, Calif., the “Hammer” line of testing systems fromEmprix, Inc. of Waltham, Mass., and the Abacus and Abacus 2 testingsystems from Zarak Systems of Sunnyvale, Calif. However, each of thesesystems has shortcomings that preclude the type of thorough and easy touse testing system of the present invention. For example, it is known toprovide software to create Test Scenarios using a graphical userinterface, in which different Test Functions are associated withdifferent Communications Channels. However, this alone does not providesynchronization of Test Functions across multiple CommunicationsChannels with different Interface Protocols, or the ability toincorporate new Interface Protocols, such as telephony applicationsprogramming Interface Protocols, into the scenario builder. Furthermore,it is known to scan a network to identify computers or agents that maybe utilized in a testing scenario, but this does not provide an abilityto itemize the Interface Protocols that may be used on each computer.Moreover prior systems do not provide for analysis profiles, crossanalysis or layered result analysis of test results. It is also known toprovide a communications system tester that uses telephony API functioncalls to control a communications platform via the communications serversoftware that directly controls the communications hardware of thecommunications platform. Such functionality is present in the TAPICapacity Tester from Genoa Technology, of Moorpark, Calif. 93021.However, many of the foregoing systems suffer from the deficiency of notbeing able to provide a testing system that can simultaneously test allof the Interface Protocols utilized by today's complex communicationsplatforms. This, in part, is due to multitude of ways thatCommunications Channel endpoints are identified and controlled in acomplex communications platform. For example, the information needed tocontrol a Voice over IP (VoIP) Communications Channel endpoint might bea H323 endpoint, an IP address, and a unique phone number identifier.However, the information needed to control a T1 Communications Channelthat terminates in a Dialogic board, for example, might be the Dialogicboard name, the span, timeslot, and a unique phone number identifier.The information needed to control a CDR Communications Channel might bea CTM Server name and a computer name. Likewise, for the TAPI 2.xInterface Protocol, the information needed to identify and control aspecific Communications Channel endpoint could include a Line ID, andaddress, and line information. Accordingly, as the number of InterfaceProtocols for a communications platform increase, the difficulty ofproviding a system that can simultaneously control and test differentCommunications Channels that use different Interface Protocols of thecommunication platform increases exponentially.

Many other problems relating to testing are caused by the increasedcomplexity of communications platforms. For example, because newercommunications platforms have greater capacity, it is necessary toutilize more test equipment (such an automated bulk call generators) tointerface with a communications platform to test it. However, it isstill important to have a central console from which the Test Scenariois controlled. Because the central console must be networked to the testequipment during the test, this means that there will be significantnetwork traffic between the testing console and the test equipment. Thisnetwork traffic devoted to executing the Test Scenario, and collectingthe resulting data, can itself become a bottleneck, which prevents thetest equipment from being utilized to its capacity for testing thecommunications platform. Accordingly, there is a need for a system thatreduces network traffic associated with the testing console and testequipment.

This problem has been partially addressed by systems such asChannelGauge of G3 Nova Technologies, Inc. of Westlake Village, Calif.This product uses Agents, or software, usually on remote computers,connected to test equipment, that can receive all or a portion of a TestScenario and independently execute it and without the necessity ofsignificant overhead network traffic from the testing console. Inaddition, Agents record command responses and status information fromcommunications devices regarding a Communications Channel. However, theuse of Agents creates additional problems. It is more difficult todefine a Test Scenario on the testing console when there a multipleAgent computers. It is difficult to keep track of which computers areconnected to which test equipment, and the communications resources ofeach test piece of test equipment connected to each Agent computer. Inaddition, as communications platforms increase in complexity byimplementing more Interface Protocols, it will become even moredifficult to keep track of which Agents are interfaced with testequipment that implements the various Interface Protocols. While all ofthis information can be “hard coded” into a Test Scenario, it makes theTest Scenarios more difficult to write and modify. Moreover, the use ofAgents does not necessarily diminish the network traffic associated withtransmitting test results to the testing console (or a separate databaseserver).

Another problem resulting from the increased capacity of communicationsplatforms having many Communications Channels is the difficulty ofwriting Test Scenarios to test all of the Communications Channels.Writing Test Scenarios is a tedious process, and it is made worse bycommunications platforms having hundreds or even thousands ofCommunications Channels. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide asystem and method to increase the efficiency with which Test Scenarioscan be written for platforms having large numbers of CommunicationsChannels.

Another significant problem with newer communications platforms is thatmany are designed to interface with other pieces of expensive networkequipment. Sometimes, the other expensive network equipment can costover a million dollars or more. As a practical matter, many testingfacilities do not have the resources to purchase all of the networkequipment designed to interact with a communications platform. This canlead to instances where a new communications platform can not beadequately tested before being released to the public, which decreasesthe reliability of the communications platform. Accordingly, it isdesirable to provide a method for emulating communications equipmentthat a communications platform is intended to interact with so that theplatform can be tested without having to purchase expensive equipment.

Another problem with testing communications platforms is that they areincreasingly provided by their manufacturers with communicationsservices provider software having a telephony API that is not generallyaccepted in the marketplace, or even worse, proprietary. This makes itdifficult to thoroughly test the communications services providersoftware, or other devices intended to connect to interact with it.

Another problem with communications platform test systems is the abilityto test platforms that implement multiple Interface Protocols.Generally, some systems exist that allow, for example, testing ofmultiple telephony applications program interfaces, or which allow thetesting of internet protocol communications or TDM Interface Protocolcommunications, but not in a simultaneous Test Scenario. These limitsthe “real world” testing that can be done, as it is desirable for aplatform to be testing all Interface Protocols simultaneously. Moreover,to conduct Test Scenarios, it is often desirable to synchronize the TestFunctions that take place across different Communications Channels. Forexample, it is often necessary to place a call on a first CommunicationsChannel to a second Communications Channel, and the have the callanswered on the second Communications Channel. While synchronization hasbeen implemented in test systems in which both Communications Channelsuse the same Interface Protocol, synchronization has not beeneffectively implemented across different Interface Protocols, such aswhen a call is placed via a TDM Communications Channel to a voice ofInternet Protocol (VoIP) phone.

A more fundamental problem with communications testing systems relatesto their flexibility to keep up with the pace of new Interface Protocolsfor new communications platforms. It is very difficult andtime-consuming to write a testing system for a specific InterfaceProtocol, yet new Interface Protocols are introduced on the market withincreasing frequency. This has required significant rewriting ofcommunications testing software systems, which is slow and expensive.Accordingly it is desirable to provide a communications testing systemthat allows new Interface Protocols to be “plugged in” so they can beused without significant rewriting of the core testing software.

Another problem with communications testing systems is the ability toprovide meaningful results. It is possible to capture a great deal ofinformation about each Test Function in a Test Scenario, such as theexact time the function began, the command used to implement thefunction, the result code, the Communications Channel status, etc.However, this can result in information overload when many iterations oftests comprised of numerous Test Functions are run across thousands ofCommunications Channels. At times, highly detailed information isnecessary to pinpoint equipment design flaws and bottlenecks, but whentesting only for capacity specifications, collecting too muchinformation is undesirable, and as noted above, the excessive collectionof information can actually impede the ability to perform the tests.Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a communications testing systemwith flexible information collection and analysis capabilities. Inparticular, it is desirable to generate information that providesvarious levels of detail, and allows visual display so that it may beeasily understood. In addition, it is desirable to provide a system thatallows pass/warning/fail criteria to be specified after a test iscomplete and the data has been gathered, so that the performance of acommunications platform may be more completely assessed.

Another problem with communications test systems relates to the abilityto obtain information regarding the status of a Communications Channel.For example, different telephony APIs (such as TAPI, JTAPI, S.100,S.410, CDR and WMI) provide different levels of information regardingthe status of a Communications Channel. For example, a communicationsservice provider for a communications platform can support multiple bothS.100 and TAPI telephony API. The S.100 telephony API provides detailedinformation about a streaming media communication, such as a playingwave files or tone files, or bridging conversations. However, the TAPItelephony API provides more powerful call control processing.Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a communications test systemthat can use multiple protocols to obtain the maximum information aboutthe Communications Channel of a communications platform.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a Communications PlatformTesting System having some or all of the following features:

Ability to work with multiple Communications Channels

Ability to simultaneously communicate with a Communications via multipleinterfaces, such as PSTN, IP, Telephony APIs, and cable.

Ability to simultaneously communicate with a Communications Platform viamultiple protocols, such as S.100, S.410, CDR, M.100, TAPI (allversions) WMI API, CSTA, JTAPI and other user-defined protocols and APIsor protocols that may be defined in the future.

Ability to execute Test Scenarios based each interface and eachprotocol.

Ability to Start and stop Test Scenario execution on a local host and onremote Agents a finite or an infinite number of iterations.

Ability to manage execution results and log information.

Ability to collect detailed information during test execution.

Ability to provide execution results (e.g., PASSED, FAILED or SKIPPED)for every execution step and analysis of the results based on userdefined criteria.

Ability, if a FAILED result is encountered, to stop execution on thespecified Logical Channel, report the failure cause or description andgracefully recover the resources used on that Logical Channel.

Announce the presence of each remote Agent on the network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a is a diagrammatic view of the elements of a communicationsplatform and an embodiment of a communications platform testing system.

FIG. 1 b is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of an execution managerand portion of a communications platform testing system in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 1 c is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of an Agent managerportion of a communications platform testing system in accordance withthe present invention.

FIG. 2 a is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing a scenario builder.

FIG. 2 b is a view of a graphical user interface for a scenario buildershowing all the test functions for a three channel test scenario.

FIG. 2 c is a view of the left half of the test scenario shown in FIG. 2b.

FIG. 2 d is a view of the right half of the test scenario shown in FIG.2 b.

FIG. 3 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing a Unified execution profile for two Agents.

FIG. 4 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing an Agent profile.

FIG. 5 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing a dialog input box for editing Logical Channelsettings.

FIG. 6 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing a dialog creating a new execution profile.

FIG. 7 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing a window for allowing the selection of Agents forinclusion in an execution profile.

FIG. 8 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing a window for displaying a summary of Agent datafor Agents included in an execution profile.

FIG. 9 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing a window for specifying the data that should becollected during execution of a test scenario.

FIG. 10 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing a window for specifying how and where data fromexecution of a Test Scenario should be collected.

FIG. 11 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing a window for the status of CommunicationsChannels during execution of a Test Scenario.

FIG. 12 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing a window for compactly displaying a list of allchannels in a Test Scenario.

FIG. 13 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing collected statistics relating to CommunicationsChannels during execution of a Test Scenario.

FIG. 14 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing an execution results window which allows in-depthaccess to the results of an execution session both regarding theexecution flow on a whole channel for all the iterations set in theexecution profile.

FIG. 15 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing an implementation of Layered Results Analysis,whereby channels, and iterations may be selected, as well as Log Datafor the selected iteration.

FIG. 16 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing a window for displaying Log Level Detailinformation.

FIG. 17 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing an initial screen for the results manager modulewhen it is invoked form the execution manager module.

FIG. 18 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing a window for displaying information available foran execution session.

FIG. 19 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing a window for providing information on both theexecution flow on the channels that supported the execution session, andon the execution summary for each channel and iteration.

FIG. 20 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing a window for displaying a Call Race view (timeslice viewer) of the execution flow for all of the channels, as well asa context menu.

FIG. 21 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing a window for displaying, form a reports managermodule, the execution profile for a particular test scenario.

FIG. 22 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing a window for creating or editing an analysisprofile.

FIG. 23 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing a window for specifying pass/warning/failcriteria for an analysis profile.

FIG. 24 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing a window for specifying whether collectednumerical information should be reported as a total or an average.

FIG. 25 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing a window for information reporting the analysisof Log Data in accordance with an Analysis Profile.

FIG. 26 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing a window for a Global Analysis Report showing theresults of the application of a representative Analysis Profile,including the number of PASSSED results and FAILED results, as well ashyperlinks for Timing Benches and Statistics Counters.

FIG. 27 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing a window in which the Analysis Profile tab isselected for a highlighted global report.

FIG. 28 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing an execution profile pane, before associatingTest Sequences with Logical Channels.

FIG. 29 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing a window for selecting groups of logical channelsso that parameters maybe set for the selected group of channels.

FIG. 30 is the Edit Channels screen of FIG. 29 with informationspecified for specifying a test scenario file and a group of channels.

FIG. 31 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing an execution profile pane, after associating TestSequences with Logical Channels.

FIG. 32 is a view of the Scenario Editor Workspace with “Flow &Analysis” functions displayed.

FIG. 33 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing a method of specifying User Specified StatisticalData, such as a counter, by inserting it into a test sequence.

FIG. 34 is a view of a graphical user interface for a communicationstesting system showing a method of specifying a Time Profile for aLogical Channel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Definitions used herein are as follows.

An “Agent” means a software program (either stand-alone or asubroutine/function) that exchanges command and status informationbetween a Test Scenario execution portion of a communications testingsystem and an endpoint of a Communications Channel of a CommunicationsPlatform. There may be a device between an Agent and an endpoint of aCommunications Channel, such as when an Agent is installed on a computerthat is controlling a bulk call generator connected to theCommunications Channels of a Communications Platform. An Agent causesTest Function commands to be executed upon a Communications Channel,either by controlling either equipment such as a bulk call generator, orby passing telephony API commands to the Communications Platform. AnAgent also monitors the status of a Communications Channel, either viaintermediate equipment or a telephony API, and reports or records statusinformation. An Agent may be installed on the Communications Platformbeing tested, or it may be installed on a separate computer thatdirectly or indirectly connects to a Communications Channel, or both.When an Agent communicates with a Communications Platform via atelephony Application Program Interface, it will be installed directlyon the Communications Platform (it being understood that theCommunications Platform may include a computer separately connected tothe device providing the Communications Channel endpoints.

An “Application Program Interface” (or “API”) is a predefined set ofsoftware calls and data formats by which a first application softwareprogram running under an operating system sends or receives, through theoperating system under which it is running, a command or information toor from a second application software program running under theoperating system.

A “Driver” is a software module that exchanges commands and dataexclusively between a hardware device and an operating system underwhich the driver is installed.

A “Communications Channel” is a communications path between twocomputers or communication devices. It can refer to the physical medium(e.g., wires, cable or optical fiber) or to a set of properties thatdistinguishes one channel from another. For example, TV channels referto particular frequencies at which radio waves are transmitted. In someinstances, multiple Communications Channels are carried over a singlephysical medium, such as communications on different frequencies on thesame cable, or where multiple voice communications are carried on asingle wire via time division multiplexing (TDM).

A “Communications Platform” is a physical device having multipleendpoints for Communications Channels though which communications takeplace, and which is capable of controlling the communications on theCommunications Channels. A Communications Platform can consist ofseparate, but connected, pieces of equipment, such as a unit containingthe physical plugs for the Communications Channels, which receivescontrol command through a connected computer. Examples of CommunicationsPlatforms include PBXs and telephony switches. Traditionally,Communications Platforms were limited to handling communications onlythrough PSTN protocols, but it is increasingly common for them to handlecommunications using many different protocols, such as IP, JTAPI, CSTA,S.100, S.410, CDR, M.100, TAPI (all versions) or WMI.

An “Interface Protocol Library” is a software module that defines andimplements Test Functions for an interface library, and which is capableof being identified by Test Scenario builder software. Specifically, anInterface Protocol Library implements at least a subset of the functionsof the protocol.

“Log Data” for a Test Function is information pertaining to theexecution of a Test Function of a Test Function Sequence. Examples ofLog Data include: a unique identifier for the Communications Channel(i.e., IP and port numbers, or alphanumeric host identifier and physicalchannel number), time the Test Function began, duration of execution ofthe Test Function, the command issued to the device controlling theCommunications Channel, the result code(s) received from the devicecontrolling the Communications Channel, and status information from thedevice controlling the Communications Channel.

“Log Detail Level” means and indicator of the amount of information tocollect regarding execution of a Test Function.

“Logical Channel” is an identifier (or reference) for a CommunicationsChannel. The term is used to prevent ambiguity, because, for example,multiple pieces of communications equipment or software can serve asendpoints for a subset of the Communications Channels of aCommunications Platform. (For example, two 128 channel bulk callgenerators can be connected to a 256 channel Communications Platform.)

A “Multi-interface, Multi-Protocol Communications Platform” is aCommunications Platform having endpoints for at least two CommunicationsChannels, and which can use at least two different Interface Protocolsto control communications on the Communications Channels.

A “Interface Protocol” is a predefined methodology or protocol and oneor more data formats by which a communication takes place or iscontrolled on a Communications Channel. Examples of Interface Protocolsinclude TDM (T1/E1), Fax, Voice over IP, and telephony APIs.

A “Relative Channel” refers to a channel designator in a Test Scenariofile. For example, a Test Scenario that includes for functions for fiveCommunications Channels will have five Relative Channels. The RelativeChannels can later be associated with one or more actual CommunicationsChannels that will be the subject of the Test Scenario when it isexecuted.

A “Telephony Application Program Interface” is an Application ProgramInterface in which the commands received by the first applicationsoftware program can control a Communications Channel or provideinformation about a Communications Channel. Control of a CommunicationsChannel can include, for example, placing a call, answering a call,switching or holding a call, or providing information regarding a call,on a Communications Channel. Examples of Telephony Application ProgramInterfaces include TAPI, JTAPI, CSTA, M.100, S.410, CDR and WMI.

A “Test Function” is a discrete function that may be applied to aCommunications Channel, such as stop, start, make call, answer call,conference call, transfer call, switch call, play recording, etc. TheTest Functions which may be used for a particular Interface Protocolwill depend on specification for the Interface Protocol.

A “Test Function Sequence” is a collection of all the Test Functionsassociated with a specific logical or Communications Channel, includingthe logic defining how the Test Functions should be executed dependingon the results of other functions in the Test Function Sequence.

A “Test Scenario” is a combination of one or more Test FunctionSequences that make up a test. A Test Scenario may include other TestScenarios.

A “Time Profile” is a representation of one more delays (random orfixed) specified for execution of a Test Sequence for a Channel. A TimeProfile consists of either a delay before the execution of the TestSequence, and/or, if a Test Sequence is specified to repeat, a delaybetween the iterations of the Test Sequence. A delay is a time which maybe either a fixed time (e.g., 500 milliseconds), a random amount oftime, or a linear time with a specified step (the step may be positiveor negative). Time profiles are usually included in a Test Function tosimulate real life scenarios, such as the duration of a phone call.

“User Specified Statistical Data” means data that: (a) by default, isnot collected and stored by any default system of a communicationstesting system; and (b) constitutes either: (i) information based oncounts; or (ii) timing information. Examples of User SpecifiedStatistical Data include counts for line open failed, generate digitserror, calls initiated, calls completed; and averages for items such asresponse time, time to connect, or silence time.

Overview of Testing Environment

Physical Infrastructure The present invention may be used to test aMulti-interface, Multi-protocol communications platform, (a “Platform”).As shown in FIG. 1 a, such a Platform typically has a number ofsubcomponents, including a computer that includes an operating systemand a communications services application. The communications servicesapplication is typically written by the manufacturer of thecommunications platform, and comprises software used to control thecommunication channel endpoints, which are also components of thePlatform. In one embodiment, the Communications Service ProviderApplication conforms to one or more API protocols through which thetelephony components of the Platform may be controlled. For example theCommunications Service Provider Application may conform to Microsoft'sTAPI protocol, which is a Telephony API or (TAPI). (It should be notedthat “TAPI” has two meanings in the industry, it is a generic acronymfor Telephony Application Program Interface, but Microsoft Corp. hasalso published a specific Telephony Application Program Interface, whichit named TAPI.)

The Platform includes a number of means of communications. Typically, itwill include an Ethernet port for connection to a network, which in FIG.1 a is labeled “command/control.” Command and information can beexchanged though this port, and the Communications Service ProviderApplication may receive commands from external software applicationsthat it uses to control the Communications Channels. There are usuallymultiple Communications Channels, and increasingly, these channelsimplement more than one Interface Protocol. For example, as shown inFIG. 1 a, the Communications Platform implements five InterfaceProtocols: TDM Analog, TDM Digital, IP, IP H.323 and IP SIP. As shown,these represent a plurality of Communications Channels through whichtelephony communications pass via multiple Interface Protocols. It isalso possible for the Communications Platform to implement additionalprotocols, namely TAPI protocols. No additional physical inputs areshown in FIG. 1 a for implementation of these TAPI protocols, becauseTAPI is a software-based protocol so the software command can bereceived via the Ethernet “command/control” network interface. Moreover,it is possible for multiple TAPI protocols to be supported by this portand the Communications Services Provider Application, including a CustomTelephony API.

As further shown in FIG. 1 a, the computer included in theCommunications Platform also has installed on it telephony API Agentsoftware, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention. Inthis embodiment, the telephony API Agent software is configured tocommunicate with the Communications Services Provider Application viaeither of two kinds of telephony APIs: a telephony API directlysupported by the Operating System (which would normally be for aMicrosoft operations system, Microsoft's TAPI 2.x or TAPI 3.x), or by acustom telephony API, which would typically be specified by themanufacturer of the Communications Platform. Either type constitutes atelephony applications program interface operable to receive commands tothereby control a telephony communication through a CommunicationsChannel.

As shown in FIG. 1 a, the Communications Platform has multiple channelendpoints. The object of the present invention is to test thecapabilities of the Communications Platform. Accordingly, the oppositeendpoint of each channel to be tested is connected to an Agent that cancommunicate using the same protocol as the particular channel from theCommunications Platform to which it is connected. Those of skill in theart will appreciate that multiple channels can be handled by a singlephysical jack or connector, so the number of channels controllable bythe Communications Platform is usually greater than the number ofphysical jacks or connectors. For example, it is possible that all ofthe three IP Interface Protocols shown in FIG. 1 a, plus thecommand/control interface, could use a single Ethernet port on theCommunications Channel.

As noted above, some of the Communications Channel endpoints will beconnected to Agent devices. These will typically be computers outfittedwith communications testing devices, such as bulk call generators,corresponding to the Interface Protocols of the Communications Platformunder test, such as Intel Dialogic or Natural Microsystems model nos.D/240SC-T1, D/480JCT-T1, D/300SC-E1, DM3 (quad span D/960V or T),D/41ESC(analog) or D/160(analog). In one embodiment, a Pentium III classcomputer that is connected to and controls the communications testingdevice(s) will have installed thereon an Agent, which is software asdefined above. Additional Agents may be added to a testing environmentto provide higher levels of stress or load testing.

In a typical testing environment, as shown in FIG. 1 a, another“Execution Manager” computer will also be connected to the same networkto which the Communications Platform is connected via its“command/control” interface. The Execution Manger computer may haveinstalled on it software described further below. The Execution Managercomputer may be an Intel or compatible Pentium III, 550 Mhz processor,256 MB of RAM, a UDMA 100, 20 GB hard drive, a 100 Mbps, full duplexnetwork interface card, and connecting to a network connection using anintelligent switch, and running Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 2000Server or Windows 2000 Advanced Server with SP2 installed. The ExecutionManager computer should be enabled for TCP/IP and NetBios communication.It should also have installed on it a database system, such as MicrosoftSQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (MSDE 2000) or Microsoft SQL Server withService Pack 2.

In one embodiment, each Agent, (represented in FIG. 1 a by the TDM Agentand the IP AGENT) can be detected by the Execution Manager network bybroadcasting an IP ping command to a subnet. By default, the ExecutionManager software is configured to ping the 192.167.32.xxx subnet. TheExecution Manager will attempt to instantiate on each computerresponding to the ping, and if it is successful, it means that Agentsoftware is installed on computer having the particular IP address. Inone embodiment, the Execution Manager uses the Microsoft DCOM technologyto perform the instantiation. In addition, each Agent installed on aremote computer reports to the Execution Manager an identification ofthe communications resources available to it, such as the number oflines it can access, as well as all information need to uniquelyidentify a Communications Channel controllable by the Agent, and anidentification of an Interface Protocol used by the Agent/remotecomputer. Software that facilitates this function is included in thecomputer program listing.

Depending on the amount of processing to be conducted by the test,additional workstations or servers may also be employed, which canreduce the processing overhead of the Execution Manager computer, asdescribed below. Specifically, a separate Results Database server 102running Microsoft SQL Server may be utilized to store all results oftests, and workstation 103 may be used to monitor the status of testsconducted by the testing server 101.

Those of skill in the art will appreciate that numerous changes could bemade to the infrastructure described above. For example, sometimes, thecommunications platform comprises channel endpoints and a computer thatare different pieces of equipment, but which communicate, for example,via an Ethernet or serial port. In this case, the Communications ServiceProvider Application will be installed on the computer. For such aconfiguration, the TAPI Agent software would also be installed on thecomputer. Also, it may be possible to provide a configuration in whichthe TDM Agent and the IP Agent (or even other Agents for other InterfaceProtocols) are all installed on a single computer, or even installed onthe Execution Manager computer. Moreover, the Results DB Server couldtheoretically be installed on the same computer as the ExecutionManager. However, in view of the processing capacity of computers, sucha configuration would likely overload the computer.

Execution Manager Software In one embodiment, the Execution Managersoftware of the present invention performs the functions describedbelow.

As shown in Fig. 1 b, one embodiment of the invention utilizes two typesof software: execution manager software and Agent software. TheExecution Manager has six primary functions. The Scenario Builder isused to create and save Test Scenarios for the Communications Channelsof the communications platform under test. The Batch Job Manager is usedto execute a Test Scenario, in part by sending Communications Channelcontrol commands to the communications platform in accordance with aTest Scenario. Some of these control commands may be in accordance witha telephony API. It also receives information regarding the status ofthe communications platform in response to sending the telephony APICommunications Channel control commands sent to the CommunicationsPlatform. The profile manager is used to store the configuration of aphysical infrastructure of Agents and devices that will be used toconduct execute Test Scenarios. The Monitor is used to watch the statusof a Test Scenario being executed. The results manager is a ResultsReporter operable to report information regarding the plurality ofCommunications Channels during execution of a Test Scenario, and is alsoused to select and display the results of a Test Scenario. The ResultsAnalyzer module is generate information form the Log Data regarding theexecution of each Test Sequence associated with a CommunicationsChannel. In addition, it can generate statistics regarding the executionof all Test Function Sequences, and display Log Data for any TestFunction associated with a Test Function; the generated informationregarding each test sequence; and the generated statistics regarding theexecution of the Test Function Sequences. It is also used to specifydesired thresholds and pass/fail/warning criteria, so that differentcriteria can be applied to the same Test Scenario data for analysispurposes.

The user interface is divided into two main modules, an executionmanager, and a results analyzer. However, those of skill in the art willappreciate that the functionality described below could be easilycombined into a single module or broken up into more than two modules.In one embodiment, the software components are written in Visual C++ torun under the Microsoft Windows 2000 operating system. Although thescreens, prompts and other features through which a user interacts withthe system are described below, those of skill in the art willappreciate the invention may be practiced using different operatingsystems or computer screens or menus than those shown. Accordingly, theembodiment described is only illustrative, and not intended to limit thescope of the invention.

In one embodiment, the first module is referred to as the “executionmanager.” The main window of the execution manager, shown in FIGS.11-13, displays the following areas:

Execution Profile editor—the user can edit execution profiles by mappingthe Test Scenarios on different Logical Channels and hardwareconfigurations.

Test Scenarios/Procedures editor—the user can edit the Test Scenarios byadding script functions and interconnecting them on different LogicalChannels.

Monitor and Execution Control area—the user can inspect the executionand retrieve statistics about the execution on different channels.

The user may switch between these areas by selecting the correspondingbutton from the Shortcuts toolbar (rightmost pane).

The Execution Profile Window

An execution profile consists of:

The testing software System Agents that are involved in the UnifiedProfile. Each Agent has an associated number of channels and specificengines, depending on the hardware resources available to the computeron which the Agent is installed/connected to. Each engine represents atelephony API or protocol, such as a Dialogic board or IP phone (VoIP).

The Logical Channels that will support the execution of the TestScenario. These channels will be assigned some specific runtimeparameters.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary execution profile window of the presentinvention that allows modifying all the runtime parameters assigned to achannel and allows selecting computers have Agents installed thereon. InFIG. 3, two computers (ALEXANDRU and TEO) have been selected to be inthe profile. The ALEXANDRU computer has 256 Logical Channels, and TEOhas 101 Logical Channels, for a total of 357. The execution profiledefines the conditions for running the Test Scenarios. An executionprofile may be loaded (Open button) or defined (New button). The TestScenario execution will involve the Unified Profile, i.e. a profile madeup of all the profiles associated to the Agents selected as belonging tothe current Unified Profile. The information that may be specified mayinclude the following:

After selecting the agent(s), you can start editing the executionprofile by allocating to each selected logical channel number (LC#) thefollowing resources and capabilities:

-   -   Agent—the computer that contains the execution required        resources    -   Agent channel number—the agent channel that is currently mapped        to the current logical channel    -   Test scenario file—the path and filename to the file (*.tst)        that contains the test scenario to be executed on the current        logical channel    -   Test channel number—indicate the reference test scenario channel        (which is one of the channels edited in the current test        scenario) to be executed on the current logical channel    -   Test ID—the “instance” of the test scenario within the execution        profile. It is used in case the test scenario is a multi-channel        scenario. Usually the Test ID field value is under application        control. It may be necessary to manually edit its value only in        case the application fails to correctly generate the Test ID        value. Every time you need to generate Test ID values (this is        necessary whenever a multi-channel test scenario have be mapped        on logical channels), use the application provided Edit feature        (click the Edit . . . button and make sure the Automatically        Generate Test IDs option is checked, then click Apply).    -   Execution time or Number of Iterations—the user may specify the        number of iterations/time the current test will be executed on        this logical channel.    -   Log Level—enable a specific log level option. The user has        multiple options to specify the quantity of information that        will be logged from brief execution information to detailed        debugging logs. In order to optimize the time necessary to user        for accessing the results, the preferred embodiment provides the        possibility to choose between different Log Level Details. For        example, if a system is used only for its traffic generation        capability and the user is not interested in receiving any        execution results, it may choose the “None” option. The “Errors        only” level will extract only the errors from the execution logs        and “Normal” will display the errors and the critical events        encountered during the execution. The “Debug” level presents all        the information acquired during the execution including the        errors, the events and all the parameters for the executed        functions.    -   Collect scheme—specify the components of the execution log to be        collected on the specified channel. They can be displayed as        function execution data (function execution logs and/or script        function parameters) or statistic counters and timing benches.        In one embodiment, the following options may be selected:    -   Function Execution Data—display only the executed functions with        start/end date parameters and the returned status (SUCCESS of        FAILURE) in the execution results. The following options may be        specified for this parameter:    -   a) Execution Log—display the executed functions with start/end        date parameters, the returned status and the log data for each        function in the execution results    -   b) Script Function Parameters—display the executed functions        with start/end date parameters, the returned status, the log        data and function parameters for each function in the execution        results.    -   Statistic Counters and Timing Benches—include the values of the        user defined counters and timers in the final execution results.        Their values are retrieved from the results database server and        displayed in the Channel Results logs. They may be also used to        define a post execution analysis profile from the Results        Manager application.

Delay before first iteration—specify a static, random or linear delayvalue (in ms) that will be applied to the current Logical Channel eachtime before a new execution start.

Delays between iteration—specify a static, random or linear delay value(in ms) that will be applied between the execution iterations.

If delays are specified for either of the last two parameters, Delaybefore first iteration, or delays between iteration, this constitutes aTime Profile for the Test Sequence of the channel. FIG. 34 shows anexemplary user interface for specifying a Time Profile. When a logicalchannel row is highlighted and a the entry for the row in the Delaybefore first iteration is selected, a “set” button is displayed which,if depressed, displays a Set Delay dialog box. In this box, either astatic, random or linear time delay may be specified. An identical userinterface may appear for the previous column in FIG. 34, the Delaybefore First iteration column.

The information about the execution plan viewable from this pane may bechanged by clicking any cell. The information includes, the LogicalChannel number, the name of the Agent (the name of the computer reportedby the network), the Agent channel number (each Agent has at least onechannel, and is numbered sequentially beginning with number 0), the filename and path to the Test Scenario file that will be associated with thechannel (if any), the test channel number (each Test Scenario may havemultiple channels in it, beginning with 0, and this number indicateswhich channel in the Test Scenario file will be associated with theLogical Channel), the test ID number (which is assigned for analysispurposes), the iteration information (a number, indicating either thenumber of times the Test Functions for the channel in the Test Scenariowill be executed, or the duration of time (e.g., 1 minute) for how longit will execute), the Log Detail Level, indicating how much informationwill be captured/recorded (either none, quiet, verbose or debug), thedesignator of which information will be collected during execution forthis channel (see FIG. 9), the duration of the delay before the firstexecution of the Test Scenario for the channel (in milliseconds, whichmay be static, random or linear); and the duration of the delay thatwill be applied between iterations of the test scheme (in milliseconds,which may be static, random or linear). IT will be appreciated that theeffect of specifying a Test Scenario file and a Relative Channel (theTest Ch# column in FIG. 3) for a Logical Channel (the LC# column in FIG.3), is, that the Test Functions defined within the Test Scenario filefor the specified Relative Channel of the Test Scenario will beassociated with the identified communications resource of an Agent. Thisis because, as shown the FIG. 3, each Logical Channel (the LC# column)has been assigned to a specific Agent and Agent channel number (theAgent Ch# column). Accordingly, a particular Test Function is associatedwith a Relative Channel of a Test Scenario, the Test Scenario isassociated with a Logical Channel, and the Logical Channel is associatedwith a specific Agent and Agent Channel Number, and the Agent ChannelNumber is associated with a specific communications resource. Those ofskill in the art will further appreciate that this is but oneembodiment. For example, some test systems do not use multiple Agents orremote computers, or have only a single list of communications resourcesof the communications platform. In such instances, the concept ofLogical Channels is not as important. Nevertheless, a Relative Channelof a Test Scenario could still be associated with a communicationsresource.

Each Communications Solutions Test System Agent has associated hardware(engines) and provides a number of Logical Channels, as shown in FIG. 4.The channel parameters describe the identification data (e.g. theLogical Channel number, the Agent alias) and the channel runtimecharacteristic values (e.g. iterations, log level, delay before start,and delay before iterations). The Edit button may be pressed to accessthe channel properties.

As shown in FIG. 5, the Edit Channel Properties screen allows:

Selecting a certain number (domain, range, block) of channels.

Choosing the Remote Testing Unit for which the actual modifications willbe considered.

Assigning a Channel of a Test Scenario to specific channels.

Setting the number of iterations or the time the execution will last.

Set the Log level to None, Quiet, Verbose or Debug. This setting willchange the level of the in-depth details of the execution process.

Association of a delay before start, to the selected channels. Thisdelay may be static, random or linear.

Association of a delay between iterations on the specified range ofchannels.

Defining an Execution Profile Execution of a Test Scenario should bedone according to an execution profile. When opened for the first time,Communication Solutions Test System does not have any profile to load.As soon as a profile is defined the Test System will load the last savedprofile. A new Execution Profile may be created as follows.

1. Press File|New|New Execution Profile to define an execution profile.This execution profile will have to be added Agents (Remote TestingUnits), and for each channel the runtime parameters must be defined. Thewindow allows adding Agents to the Execution Profile and defining theparameters representative for each channel all along the executionsession.

2. Next, the user presses the Add button highlighted in the upperfigure. This will open the Select Agents window depicted in FIG. 7. Thelocalhost computer is already present.

3. Next the user presses the Agent Pool button. This will open thewindow, shown in FIG. 8 that allows managing the Agents that will bepart of the Unified Profile for the execution. Initially, there is onlyone Agent, the localhost computer. As shown in the rightmost pane ofFIG. 8, the Interface Protocols each Agent can utilize are displayed. Inthe example shown in FIG. 8, the localhost computer has installed on itdlls that will allow it to communicate via TAPI 2.x, WMI, and DialogicInterface Protocols.

4. Next, the user presses the Discover button to scan the local areanetwork for Communications Solutions Test System Agents or use the Addbutton to browse for an Agent.

5. Next, the user presses the OK button once the scanning, or browsingfor Agents, is complete.

6. The Select Agents window will show all the RTUs (if the DiscoverAgents option was chosen). To the extent there are other RTUs on thenetwork, each will be listed, and for each RTU, a list of the InterfaceProtocols the RTU supports will be listed. The process by which theExecution Manage identifies the Agents and the Interface Protocols theysupport is further discussed elsewhere herein. The user may then selectthe Agent(s) to be used in the unified profile, and press OK. Those ofskill in the art will appreciate that only those RTUs necessary toimplement a particular Test Scenario need to be selected.

At this point the Agents in the Execution Profile are set. The next stepis to select the channels that will support the execution and to assignthem specific runtime parameters. As an example, the steps below willassign the Make Call and Play Prompt tasks from the previously definedTest Scenario, to the first 24 channels (1st Span) and the Receive Calland Record Prompt to the next 24 channels (2nd Span).

1. Press the Edit button on the Execution Profile Window (FIG. 6) todisplay the Edit Logical Channels screen (FIG. 5).

2. Select the Communication Solutions Test System Remote Testing Unit tomodify the runtime parameters for its Logical Channels. Use the AgentAlias pull-down menu.

3. Select the Test Scenario file Make Call—Answer Call previouslydefined.

4. Set the Scenario Channel to Specified and select Scenario Channel #0.Enable the Automatically Generate Test Ids check box.

5. In the Execution Control Parameters, set the parameter in theIterations or Time to Execute to Iterations and the value to 5. Changethe Log Level to Debug.

6. To modify the Collect Scheme, press the ( . . . ) button on thisline. This will open the Channel Collect Scheme Settings window (FIG.9). Enable all the check boxes in this window and press OK.

7. Returning to the Edit Logical Channels screen, select the range ofchannels, from 0 to 23 (1st Span), to which these settings will beapplied.

8. Press the Apply button.

9. Select test Scenario channel 1 in the Scenario Channel option.

10. Assign the selected scenario channel to the 2nd Span of the Dialogicboard, choosing in Range of Channels option the interval from 24 to 47.

11. Press the Apply button.

12. Press Close button to exit this Edit Logical Channels window. Atthis moment the runtime parameters of the channels are defined. In orderto verify if the parameters are correctly defined press Check button onthe Main Toolbar.

13. Press the Save as button in order to save this execution profile.Before running the testing scenario, the user may choose Tools|GlobalSettings to enable the option that allows saving the results in adatabase if any result post processing is required. If not, enable onlythe option Save results in local binary files.

FIG. 10 shows the options available in order to selectively record forLog Data associated with the execution of each Test Function; forexample, saving Test Scenario results on either a remote computer onwhich the Agent is installed, or the computer holding the resultsdatabase. The results saving options affords the user considerableflexibility in performing tests. For tests involving a few Agents orwhich are not expected to generate significant amounts of test data, itwill be preferable to save have the Agents store their results on theprimary results database. However, if the test is expected to generatesignificant amounts of data, the user may specify that the resultsshould be saved in a local on the computer on which the Agent isinstalled. This option will reduce network traffic, and the processingoverload for the Agent workstation to communicate with the databaseserver, which will give the testing system better capacity to devoteresources on executing the testing scenario. Another option is to selectthe “Collect data at end of execution” checkbox. If this is selected andthe “Save results in database” option is also selected, the Agents willstore the results locally, and then upon completion of the test, theresults from the Agents will be copied to the results database. Thisoption reduces processing and network overhead during test execution,and still provides for comprehensive analysis of the results from allAgents via the results database.

Scenario Builder

The Test Scenarios are edited with an extremely easy to use and powerfulTest Scenario Editor. No programming knowledge is necessary.

A Test Scenario may be created, edited and saved using the ScenarioBuilder module. Test scenarios are combinations of two or more TestFunctions. In one embodiment, Test Functions are grouped by InterfaceProtocol, and all Test Functions for a given protocol are stored in a.dll file which comprises a “function library” for that protocol. Forexample, separate function libraries may exist for different InterfaceProtocols such as TAPI 2.x, T1/E1/Analog, CDR, M.100, S.100, S.410,CSTA, JTAPI, TAPI 3.x, WMI, and XoIP: Voice (H323, SIP, RTP).Importantly, the present system is designed to accommodate futureprotocols that may be developed in the future. Such protocols may bereflected by a Dynamic Link Library (.dll). All .dll files representingprotocols that may be tested under the present invention may be storedin the main program file directory in which the software is installed ontest server 101, such as “C:\Program Files\G3 NOVA Technology\CST\,” andregistering the file. As described further below, the system scans forall such protocol .dll files, and all files identified are automaticallypresented in the scenario builder user interface for the user to accessto create, edit and execute Test Scenarios. This architecture make thetesting system of the present invention ideally suited to persons thathave a new, unique or proprietary protocol they wish to tests.Accordingly, the present invention is highly adaptable to changingtelecommunications interfaces, protocols and equipment.

In addition, the invention includes Test Scenario flow-control functionsin a pre-defined function library. This library includes functions suchas start, stop, variable set, variable test, sleep, procedure initiationand exiting, counting, and timer stopping and stopping. In general thegraphical user interface for building Test Scenarios, including the dragand drop capability, is known in the art as reflected, for example inMicrosoft's Visual C++.

The Test Scenario Window

A Test Scenario represents a real world situation and is represented byfunction blocks that allow a reconstruction of the real life scenarios.The Test Scenario window may be accessed by pressing the TestScenario/Procedures second button on the Shortcuts bar (the leftmostpane of FIG. 2 a). This window allows the user to view and modify a TestScenario or to construct one from scratch, using the function blocks inthe Scenario Editor Workspace (the rightmost pane in FIG. 2 a. A versionof the Scenario Editor Workspace with “Flow & Analysis” functionsdisplayed appears in FIG. 32

The Scenario Editor Workspace shown in FIG. 2 a includes a collection offunction libraries that contain Test Function blocks that will be usedwhile creating/modifying a Test Scenario. There will always collectionof Test Functions under the heading Flow & Control, which contains thefollowing: Start, Stop, Variable Set, Variable Test, Sleep, Procedure(enter), Procedure (exit), Counter Operation, Start Watch and StopWatch. In addition, multiple Test Functions that may be repeatedly usedin different Test Scenarios may be stored as a procedure. When aprocedure is inserted into a Test Scenario, it becomes easier to readand understand, providing though a better handling of the Test Scenariocreation.

The remaining sets of Test Functions are from the .dll libraries for thedifferent Interface Protocols installed on the execution manager.

FIG. 2 b shows all of the Test Functions of a representative TestScenario for simulating a conference call. FIGS. 2 c and 2 d show theTest Scenario of FIG. 2 b in greater detail. This Test Scenarioimplements the functions of creating and terminating a three wayconference call using phones controlled by three different InterfaceProtocols. Channel 0 uses an IP (H.323) Interface Protocol, channel 1uses a TAPI 2.x Interface Protocol, and channel 2 uses a TDM interface.

Creating a new Test Scenario A Test Scenario represents a real worldsituation simulated on the computer, using function blocks that allow aneat reconstruction of the real life scenarios. A Test Scenario may bemade up of interconnected function blocks, belonging to the same or todifferent libraries. In the Test Scenario the user may also addprocedures. A procedure is a set of interconnected function blocks oreven a Test Scenario, with a known output, hidden beside a single block.General methods for defining a Test Scenario using a graphical userinterface are well-known to those of skill in the art. For example,techniques for graphically displaying channels, and dragging anddropping Test Function icons for a single Interface Protocol andconnecting those icons, are well-known. Accordingly, the details forperforming this function are not the focus of this invention and are notrepeated herein.

In the following example, references are to FIG. 2 a unless otherwiseindicated, and the steps show placing a 3-Party conference call on threedifferent channels using the following steps:

1. From Press File|New|New Test Scenario on the Main Menu. Press the AddChannel Button three times to create channels 0-2, each of which will bydefault have start and stop functions.

2. In the Scenario Editor Workspace, click XoIP icon to expand it toshow the graphically displayed icons shown in FIG. 2 a, which representTest Functions. These Test Functions represent control functions forcontrolling a Communications Channel via a Interface Protocol.

3. Drag and drop the Make Call function block onto the Test ScenarioEditor area for channel 0. This action constitutes a means for defining,or associating, a Test Function for the Communications Channel.

4. Move the mouse pointer over the Start function block. When the mousepointer turns into a cross, keep left mouse button pressed and drag aconnection to the Make Call function block.

5. Add the Sleep Test Function to the Channel 0 workspace by clickingand expanding the Flow & Analysis title in the Scenario EditorWorkspace, and dragging and dropping the Sleep icon onto the TestScenario Editor area for channel 0. Connect the Make Call and Sleet TestFunction blocks by clicking in the timeout section of the Make CallBlock and dragging the cursor to the sleet function block.

6. Return to the XoIP function library and add the End Call functionblock and connect its input to the connected, error disconnected, anderror outputs of the Make call Test Function. Next, connect the CallCleared and Error outputs of the End Call Test Function to the Stopbutton.

7. For Channels 1 and 2, access the TAPI 2.x and I1/E1/Alalog Fax &voice Caller Test Function libraries, respectively, to create thefunctions and connections shown in FIGS. 2 a-c.

8. Note that each connector line between Test Functions in the samefunction is in red.

9. To obtain synchronization between Test Functions drag the cursor fromthe output of one Test Function to the title of a different function. Inone embodiment, this process constitutes a means for definingsynchronicity a between the Test Functions of different CommunicationsChannels such that the execution of a Test Function of a secondCommunications Channel does not begin until completion of a TestFunction on the first Communications Channel. As shown in FIG. 2 a-c,the following synchronizations should be created:

Connect to Output Function Input Connect to Channel Function BlockOutput Channel Function Block 1 Open OK 0 Make Call 1 Setup OK 2 ReceiveCall Conference 1 Add to OK 0 Sleep Conference 0 Sleep OK 2 End Call 0Sleep OK 1 Drop

The synchronizations are represented by dashed, red lines. As a resultof these synchronizations, each Test Function having a synchronizedinput will defer execution until the completion of Test Function withwhich it is synchronized,

10. Choose File|Save as from the Main Menu and save the current TestScenario as 3 Party Conference Call. In one embodiment, all TestScenario files are saved with a “.tst” file extension. It will beappreciated by those of skill in the art, that the Test Scenario filemay be stored independently of (without references to) specificCommunications Channels with which the Communications Channel may laterbe used. This is because in the described embodiment, the Test Scenarioonly refers to Relative Channels (in this case, 0, 1 and 2).

The Test Scenario will function as follows. The conference call isestablished on the TAPI channel (channel 1). From the IP(H323) channel(channel 0) a call is placed (H323MakeCall function); the TAPI channelresponds to this call (Answer function). The conference is set up (SetupConference function, channel 1). A new call is initiated from the TAPIchannel to TDM channel (Dial function), then the Receive Call (on theTDM channel) answers this call. Next, on the TAPI channel, the new callis added to conference; the third party conference is established. TheSleep function (channel 0) simulates the conversation. Next, the callsare dropped and disconnected.

Those of skill in the art will appreciate that this scenario is designedto execute three different Interface Protocols simultaneously. Moreover,the execution of specific functions in different channels utilizingdifferent Interface Protocols has been accomplished. The format for atest scenario is included in the computer program listing.

Running a Test Scenario

If post execution analysis of the results is needed, before running thecurrently selected Test Scenario, the user should make sure that theSave Results in Database option is checked in Tools|Global Settings. Tocheck the results on the local host computer, make sure that the optionSave results in local binary files in Tools|Global Settings is checked.The user then presses the Run button on the toolbar, which is shown inFIG. 2 a. If the profile was not saved, the user will be prompted tosave it. This causes the execution profile and Test Scenario(s) to besent to the Agents selected in the execution profile. The Agents thenexecute those portions of the Test Scenario having channels theycontrol, and store the results either locally or in the reportingdatabase server as selected by the user.

Monitoring the Execution of the Test Scenario

After the Run button is pressed, the execution may be monitored usingthe Monitor and Execution Control window. This may be done by pressingthe Monitor and Execution Control button on the Shortcuts Bar, theleftmost pane in FIG. 2 a, and selecting one of the three tabs at thebottom of this pane, which are entitled “Channel Details,” “ChannelList” and “Statistics.” When the “Channel Details” tab is selected asshown in FIG. 11, a view is provided showing: Agent Alias, Agent Channelnumber, Logical Channel status, current iteration/time left, thefunction that is currently executed on each channel, the result of thelast executed function, the engine specific. When the “Channel List” tabis selected as shown in FIG. 12, a view is provided that shows all thechannels in the current Execution Profile. The user may double-click anychannel in the list, in order to switch back to the “Channel Details”tab, which will then be focused on the selected channel runtimeparameters. When the “Statistics” tab is selected as shown in FIG. 13, aview is provided that shows the runtime values for the existingStatistic Counters and Timing Benches.

The Statistics page provides partial and total real time statistics thatare extracted from the currently executed functions. For example, whenrunning tests with GlobalCall functions, the following statistics (butnot limited too) are displayed: Calls Initiated, Calls Completed, CallsReceived, Calls Answered, Calls Ended, BHCC (the number of callsinitiated and completed on the respective channel)

To collect User Specified Statistical Data, such as a statistics counteror timing benchmarks to a Test Scenario, the user may Double-click onthe function <CounterOp> in the Scenario Editor Workspace (FIG. 32),drag a counter icon into a test scenario workspace (FIG. 33), which willopen a dialog box for defining a counter and indicating whether thecounter should be incremented, decremented or reset when it isencountered during execution flow.

As shown in each of FIGS. 11-13, the Monitor and Execution Controlscreen includes a “Filter” button. If in the Execution Profile there ismore than one Agent, but the execution is done only on the channels ofone RTU Agent, depressing the Filter button allows the user to monitoronly the Agent that is involved in the execution process.

While the execution is in progress, the Stop, Pause and Resume buttonsas shown in FIGS. 11-13, allow controlling the execution flow on anychannels that have been selected in either of the “Channel Details,”“Channel List” or “Statistics” panes.

Viewing the Results

In the sample described above, the results of the execution are savedboth on the Agent (localhost computer) and on the database server. Thedatabase server is used to save the results and perform an analysis onthe set of results. To access the results saved on the localhostcomputer, depress the drop down button to the right of the View Resultsbutton (shown in the upper right portion of FIGS. 11-13) and selectLocal Results. As noted above, this requires that the “Save Results inlocal binary files” option in Tools|Global Settings is checked and thatthe Collect Scheme parameter for the channels supporting the executionis not set to <NONE> in the Edit Logical Channels window before runningthe test.

An Execution Results window will be displayed as shown in FIG. 14. Thiswindow allows an in-depth access to the results of an execution sessionboth regarding the execution flow on a whole channel for all theiterations set in the execution profile. It will be appreciated that ona local machine, different Test Scenario sessions may be run atdifferent times, and for each Test Scenario session, multiple channelson the local machine may have been used. Accordingly in this view, thesessions and channels are organized hierarchically. By expanding asession (by clicking the “+” to the right of its name), the list ofchannels for the Agent is expanded as shown in (FIGS. 15 and 16).Referring first to FIG. 15, a list of all Channels used in the TestScenario is displayed in the left pane. These channels correlate to theCommunications Channels controllable by the particular Agent. Asdiscussed above, these may not match the “Logical Channels” previouslyused to define a scenario to be implemented by multiple Agents. Forexample, if there are two Agents, each with 24 channels that will beused in a Test Scenario, the 24 channels of the first Agent may havebeen mapped to Logical Channels 0-23, and the 24 channels of the secondAgent may have been mapped to Logical Channels 24-47. However, when the“local results” of either of these Agents is viewed, each will reportchannel 0-23.

Any Logical Channel may be highlighted, and for the highlighted channel,the right pane displays at the top a list of each iteration of the TestScenario for that channel. In addition, this top portion displayshyperlinks to each iteration, and by clicking an iteration number, thelower part of the right pane will jump to the selected iteration number.In the bottom of the right pane, there is displayed a list of eachiteration of the Test Sequence for the channel. For each iteration, thestarting date and time is shown, followed by a breakdown of details foreach Test Sequence for the iteration. For example, as shown in FIG. 15,there were 5 iterations performed, and the first Test Function for eachiteration was the Make Call function. The starting times, results,parameters and Log Data for this Test Function of this iteration are allshown. By scrolling downward in this window, the user may view theremaining Test Function information in the first iteration, and then thesecond through fifth iterations.

In addition, as shown if FIG. 16, for each iteration/Test Functioncombination, various data may be collected. The universe of data thatmay be collected will have been specified the Agent software, but theAgent will only collect the data specified by the Log Detail Level(e.g., none, quiet, verbose or debug) By pressing the “+” to the left ofthe channel number in the left pane, the channel for that session isshown. Depending on the setting the following information may bedisplayed: 1. None, 2. Errors Only, 3. Normal—between Errors and Debug,without the decoding of all the errors, 4. Debug—full, time stamp onevents and functions, and decoding of all the functions parameters

In order to access the results saved on the remote database server,click on the drop down list indicator (immediately to the right of theView Results button on FIGS. 11-13) and select Database results. Choosethe remote database server where the results were saved. In oneembodiment of the system, each Agent (localhost computer) must haveinstalled on it a Microsoft SQL database client to facilitate itsreporting of test results to the database server. This will invoke theresults manager portion of the Testing Systems software, and establish aconnection with the reporting Database Server, resulting in the displayof the screen shown in FIG. 17.

The pane entitled Execution Sessions shows all executions sessions forwhich the Agents have reported results to the database server, initiallysorted by date. By Selecting the View button in this pane, the user maysort the sessions by either date/time or by the analysis profile. Toaccess information available for an execution session, the userhighlights the date and time of the execution session, which results ininformation being displayed in the right-most pane, as shown in FIG. 18.This pane allows information to be displayed in one of four formats byselecting the applicable tabs, as follows:

The Execution Summary pane displays an overview of the executionsession.

The Channel Results pane (FIG. 19) provides information on the executionflow on each channel and the result of the execution on each channel. Inparticular, this pane shows both the execution flow on the channels thatsupported the execution session, in the upper window while the lowerwindow provides information on the execution summary for each channeland iteration.

The Timing Diagram pane (FIG. 20) gives a Call Race view (time sliceviewer) of the execution flow for all of the channels. Specifically,this aspect of the invention provides a means for displaying the resultsof the execution of the Test Scenarios, such that the results from eachTest Scenario share a common time baseline. Moreover, the results aredisplayed in an area having first and second axes, wherein in horizontalaxis represents time, and the second axis displays a bar for eachCommunications Channel, with each bar having markers corresponding tothe time spent performing each Test Function applied to theCommunications Channel. The functions performed on each channel aredivided into adjacently positioned blocks, showing the time eachfunction begin and end on each channel. By clicking on any portion ofthe screen showing the duration of time blocks, the Time Cursor willmove to the location selected, and the time represented by the cursorwill be shown in the position box in the upper left hand corner of thepane. Moving the cursor over any time block representing a function of achannel and holding the cursor at that location for over one second willresult in the display of a pop-up context menu, showing informationabout the precise time/channel combination, including the LogicalChannel, Agent channel, the time the Test Function began, the durationof the Test Function (width of the time block), the iteration number andthe result of the Test Function. In addition, the Zoom In and Zoom Outbuttons will enlarge and shrink the view of the channels and TestFunction blocks so that various levels of detail may be examined.

The Execution Profile pane (FIG. 21) displays the profile of theexecution session, which is the same type of pane shown in FIG. 3.

The above information provides raw information regarding the TestScenario, the execution profile and the data collected. However, in oneembodiment of the invention, additional features are provided to allowmore detailed analysis of the data.

Analyzing the Results

One step that may be taken to analyze results is to create an analysisprofile, which may be done by invoking the Analysis Profile screen (bypressing the Analysis Profile shortcut in the left pane (FIG. 22), thenpressing the New button under Analysis Profile on the toolbar to createa new analysis profile. (Alternatively, a previously saved AnalysisProfile may be retrieved by Clicking File|Open, and, if desired, savedusing a different file name. The Analysis Profile allows definition ofthe criteria for the post processing of the results, such as definingpass/fail criteria, It also applies the pass/fail criteria to therecorded Log Data to generate pass/tail information and displays thepass/fail information.

To define Passed, Warning or Failed conditions for all counters andtiming benches recorded during the execution, double click the name of acounter or select it and press the Edit button. The window that willappear will allow describing the result criteria for the currentanalysis profile. In one embodiment, certain times and counters will beautomatically included in each test scenario, such as total time tocomplete the scenario and the number of originate calls. In addition,any counters or timers defined by the user to collect User DefinedStatistical Data will be displayed here.

The Analysis Profile section contains two tabs, Timing Benches andStatistics Counters. The Timing Benches report the time duration metricsfor the execution of Test Functions, Sequences and Scenarios, while theStatistics Counters report totals numbers for the completion of variousevents. For example, for a Make Call—Receive Call Test Scenario,described above (and in FIG. 2), one of the Test Functions for Channel 0is to “Play Prompt,” which may mean, for example, to play a recordedmessage stating “No one is available, please leave your message afterthe tone.” The user's objective may be to ensure that the playing ofthis message is always completed within 5 seconds after the call isreceived. To test for this, the user could go to the Analysis Profilescreen shown in FIG. 23, and click on the row labeled “Time toResponse.” Using the drop down menu, the user then specifies a “<” forthe Criteria, and 2 for the value and enters Report as “PASSED” and“FAILED” for Otherwise, then clicks OK. Thus, when the analysis isapplied to the results, for each of the 500 iterations, those calls forwhich the response time was under 2 milliseconds will be consideredsuccesses, the calls that did not meet these criteria will be consideredfailures. All timing numbers are specified in milliseconds. Of course,any criteria may be specified for any timing bench. In addition, theuser may click on the Global Analysis Report Tab, as shown in FIG. 24.The drop down box in this dialog may be set to either Sum( ) or Average(). The indicated function will be applied to the selected Timing Benchor Statistics Counter, which will thereafter be displayed in the GlobalAnalysis column and used in the formula specified in theIteration/Channel Analysis tab. In addition, Statistics Counters may bespecified by clicking on the Statistics Counters tab, which is shown inFIGS. 2 and 24.

For both and Timing Benches and Statistics Counters, the user may checkor uncheck the box at the left of the row to indicate whether theparticular metric should be included in a Global Analysis Report.

Once the Analysis profile is defined, the user may press Save button(FIG. 22). This allows the profile to be saved, so it may be laterretrieved and analyzed. Next, the user may press Analyze on the maintoolbar, to process the results of the execution session. As shown inFIG. 25, this results in display of the Analysis Status pane, whichshows the number of Passed, Failed and Warning events processedaccording to the defined criteria. When the analysis is complete, theGlobal Analysis Reports screen is displayed as shown in FIG. 26. Thiscomprises a left hand pane containing a listing of all generated GlobalAnalysis Reports, and a right hand pane showing the specific reporthighlighted in the left hand pane. The Global Analysis Report shows theresults of the application of the specific analysis profile shown above.Specifically, the number of iterations is shown, including the numberresulting in PASSSED results and the number resulting in FAILED results.Moreover, the hyperlinks are shown for the Timing Benches and StatisticsCounters. When either of these links are clicked, the will expand toshow the details.

To help remind the user of the analysis profile used to create theGlobal Analysis Report, tabs are provided at the bottom of screen forGlobal Analysis and Analysis Profile. The user may click on the AnalysisProfile tab, and this will display a pane have two subsidiary tabs, onefor Timing Benches and one for Statistics Counters. This allows the userto confirm the metrics and pass—fail criteria used to conduct the GlobalAnalysis. The appearance of these panes is similar to those shown inFIGS. 23 and 24, except, of course, the user is not allowed to changethe metrics or pass—fail criteria, because the analysis has already beencompleted.

Methodologies

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present inventionperforms some of the functions of prior art communications platformtesting systems, for example, creating scenarios, executing thosescenarios and collecting and displaying results of tests. Accordinglydetails of how these functions are accomplished will not be discussed indetail, as they are known in the art. However, the following sets forthsome of the methods and features that contribute to the inventiveaspects of the present testing system.

Interface Protocol Libraries

One feature of the present invention is the use of Interface Protocollibraries. In one embodiment, separate computers are used to run theexecution manager module and Agents. In this embodiment, each computersruns under the Windows operating system.

Detection of Agents by the Execution Manager

As noted above, one aspect of the invention is the detection of Agentcomputers on the network that can control Communications Channels of thecommunications platform under test, either through equipment or TAPIsoftware. In one embodiment, to be “Discovered” a computer will eitherhave Netbios enabled, or else the computer's name may be manually addedinto the poll.

For an Agent computer to be “discovered” by the Execution Manger, itmust have Agent software installed. The Agent software components dependon Interface Protocols used by the device to be controlled by the Agent.

At the execution time, the Execution Manager starts an instance of theAgent. One Agent can be located on same computer with Execution Manageror, Agents may be on different computers that are connected to samenetwork as the Execution Manager computer.

The Execution Manager will communicate to the Agent all informationrelated with the part of the Test Scenario that will be executed by thisAgent. The Agent controls the execution on the designed channels locatedon it, collects the execution results data and sends them to the TestSystem database (SQL Server). After the execution end the Agent instanceis discharged.

Of course, the real process is more complex. The Execution Manager hasthe ability to control the Agent and the Agent communicates executioninfo to Execution Manager.

Building Test Scenarios for Many Channels

One aspect of the present invention addresses the problems of creatingTest Scenarios for high bandwidth communications platform that have manychannels. There are several problems presented by these platforms.First, most systems require that test sequences be written channel bychannel. While it may be an elementary task to write a test sequence fora few channels, it can be very tedious to repeat this task for hundredsor thousands of channels. This task is complicated by the situationwhere different channels may use different Interface Protocols.

The present invention addresses these problems in several ways thatallow Test Scenarios to be easily applied to multiple channels. A firstconcept in this process is the use of Relative Channels within a TestScenario file. Relative channels mean that the channel upon which a testsequence is designed to operate is not dependent upon a specificcommunications resource. For example, in the Test Scenario buildingexample given above, the scenario works with three channels. Instead ofreferring to specific communications resources, (such as the first TDMport on computer 1, internet telephone have at port 42,001 on IP number192.168.22.6, and the tenth channel accessible by the TAPI InterfaceProtocol on the TEO computer) the Test Scenario simply refers tochannels 0, 1 and 2. These are Relative Channels because they can beassociated with different Logical Channels. This association isaccomplished via the execution profile. Specifically, the executionprofile uses “Logical Channels,” each of which is associated with aphysical channel in a test environment. (The term Logical Channels isused, because referring to a physical channel sequence can be ambiguouswhen multiple pieces of test equipment are used. For example, if twobulk call generators each have 0-255 channels, it would be ambiguous torefer to the tenth channel. Instead the system will assign the channelsof the first bulk call generator to Logical Channels 0-255, and thechannels of the second bulk call generator to Logical Channels 256-511.)The execution profile theoretically allows any Relative Channel of aTest Scenario (i.e., channel 0, 1 or 2) to be associated with anyLogical Channel, and hence, with any physical channel. Moreover, LogicalChannels of a Test Scenario can be associated with multiple LogicalChannels, and hence, multiple physical channels. Those of skill in theart will appreciate that the divorcing of Test Scenario channels fromphysical channels provides great flexibility in building large TestScenarios.

For example, the Test Scenario described above and shown in FIGS. 2 a-2d, uses three channels, designated 0-2. However, to stress test a highbandwidth communications platform, the same Test Scenario can be appliedmultiple times to groups of channels as follows.

FIG. 28 shows an execution profile pane. As shown in the Profile/AgentConfiguration pane, in this profile, there is only one computer, namelyHP2010176, which controls 256. As an example, the Three channelconference call will be applied seven times to Logical Channels 0-20 inthis profile. As shown in the Test Scenario File column, there is noTest Scenario file associated with any of the Logical Channels. Inaddition, the Test Ch. # column is blank. The first step in this processis to press the Edit button, which displays the data input dialogs shownin FIG. 29. From the screen, the information shown in FIG. 30 should beentered. Specifically, the Test Scenario file should be specified, (andthe corresponding check box checked), the scenario channel dialog shouldbe set to 0 to 2, step 1, and the automatically generate test IDs boxshould be checked. Finally, in the Step #2 section, the Range ofChannels should be set for 0 to 20 step 1. By pressing the Apply buttonand pressing close, the updated execution profile shown in FIG. 31 isdisplayed. The Test Scenario file has now been specified for all ofchannels 0-20, and each of these Logical Channels has been associatedwith channel (0-2) of the Test Scenario file, as shown by the Test Ch. #column. In addition, each group of three channels has been assigned atest ID, as shown in the Test ID column.

While this example only applied Test Scenarios and their RelativeChannels to 21 channels, the same technique could have been used toapply the Test Scenario to hundreds or thousands of channels. Mostimportantly, the associations can be made in a matter of seconds.

It should be repeated that although FIG. 31 displays Logical Channels,this is because the “Profile” line in Profile/Agent Configuration ishighlighted. By highlighting the computer name (HP2010176) the LogicalChannels shown for this computer are associated with the physicalchannels. (This is explained in more detail above in the discussion ofFIGS. 3 and 4) Accordingly, the Relative Channels of the Test Scenariohave been associated with physical channels. While in this example, theassociation is accomplished through the use of Logical Channels, manyother techniques are well known defining correspondence between suchphysical and logical resources, and the present invention encompassesall such methodologies.

Execution Manager

The Execution Manager transmits the Test Scenario to each Agent in theExecution profile, and instructs the Agents to begin execution of theTest Scenario. In one embodiment, all communication between theExecution Manger and the Agents takes place via DCOM. Each Agentidentifies and communicates with the other Agents if any synchronizationhas been specified between channels under the control of the otherAgent. In one embodiment, the communication between Agents takes usingTPC/IP on port 54321. Further information regarding the communicationsbetween the execution manager and Agents is included in the computerprogram listing referred to herein.

Synchronizing Test Scenarios Among Agents

In one embodiment, the Execution Manger sends the Test Scenario to eachAgent. Because the Test Scenario includes an identification of eachAgent and the Communications Channels associated with each Agent, theAgents are able to execute the Test Functions assigned to them, whilesimultaneously coordinating with other Agents to ensure synchronizationsare properly coordinated. The synchronization mechanism works betweentwo functions belonging to two different channels within the same TestScenario. These channels may be executed on different computers. Everyscenario function has a unique ID associated which is used and managedinternally. Also, within every function, every output (e.g. OK, Timeout)has a name and a unique ID associated. The trigger relation is definedas followings:

typedef struct tag_TRIGGER { DWORD dwStructSize;  // the size of thestructure  in bytes int iFromFunctionID;  // the triggering function IDint iToFunction ID; // the triggered function ID int iFromOutputID; //the triggering output ID TCHAR szFromOutputName [64]; // the triggeringoutput name }TRIGGER, *LPTRIGGER;

At runtime, the Execution Manager module will add to the above describedstructure the Agent computer IP address, where the triggered functionwill be executed. Just after a triggering function is executed, thecorresponding trigger relation (between the triggering and the triggeredfunction) becomes signaled (internal mechanism using TCP/IPcommunication between the computers where the triggering and triggeredfunctions are executed). In case the triggering function exits on adifferent output than the one that belongs to the trigger relation (e.g.Let's suppose we have a MakeCall/PlayPrompt—ReceiveCall/RecordPromptscenario on two channels and the MakeCall function, output “Connected”,triggers the RecordPrompt function on the 2nd channel. Suppose thatMakeCall fails and will exit on Timeout output for example), the triggerrelation is invalidated and the execution on the triggered channel willbe aborted.

In case a scenario function is triggered, the Execution Manager willwait for the corresponding trigger to become signaled (see above). Bydefault the Execution Manager will wait 10 minutes for a trigger to besignaled or invalidated. The triggers are signaled/invalidated using apure TCP/IP communication between the Agent computers.

Another application of an Agent is to emulate an IP gateway or device,either phone or fax. Specifically, an Agent may simulates the behaviorof an IP gateway/device on the IP interface. This is used to testcommunication systems that have to interact with IP gateways in the realworld. The use of an agent as a gateway/device simulator allowsautomated testing, and it can become unnecessary to actually purchasethe emulated device to test whether a communications platform canproperly interface with it. Either of two approaches may be used tocreate the Agent. In the first method, a profile for the gateway/deviceis created in accordance with the following steps.

First, the manufacturer's/device specification is analyzed to identifyits supported features and protocols. Next, an Agent that simulatesthese features and protocols is written. Also, testing is performed on areal gateway/device to identify the specific behavior of the emulatedgateway/device (anomalies, sequences of events that do not follow thestandard, etc.) under various conditions. This involves generatingtraffic to the gateway/device and measuring the response, as well asmonitoring real world traffic between the gateway/device and otherdevices. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the types ofdevices measured dictate the use of one, the other or both ways. Duringanalysis, each parameter or rule should be measured multiple times. Anaverage value and standard deviation is calculated for all parameters.When simulating a gateway, this methodology our generates the followingkinds of traffic:

-   -   Using the observed rules and random number generators for all        data parameters having the same bell curve as the measured        values    -   Using the observed rules and a random selection of the measured        parameter values    -   Using the observed rules and the smallest vales measured for the        data parameters    -   Using the observed rules and the largest values measured for the        data parameters.

When second methodology for creating the Agent is known as Record andPlay. One plays or monitors a session with a real gateway/device andmeasures the parameter values used during that session and also recordthe event sequence. THi is then played back to the device under testusing the measured parameter values and the same event sequence that wasmeasured if possible. If the device under test is taking an unexpectedroute the Agent is written to respond according to theprotocol/interface specification.

Using this methodology, it is possible to provide an extremelyadvantageous testing environment. For example, suppose a manufacturerhas designed a new fax machine, and confirmed that it is compatible withthe industry standard T.30 interface protocol for fax communication overanalog phone lines. This will not be sufficient. The standard practiceis for the manufacturer to purchase a fax machine from each manufactureron the market, and to test its new fax machine with each of these. Thisis necessary because all actual implementations of protocols haveanomalies and aspects in which they deviate from a publishedspecification. Purchasing and testing with 200 or more fax machines canbe very expensive and time consuming. Using the methodology describedabove, it is possible to for a single organization to purchase all 200other fax machines, test them using the above methodology, and thenwrite an Agent that simulates all of the machines. Then, using thecommunications testing system described herein, the manufacturer's newfax machined can be interfaced with the Agent the emulates the faxmachines of multiple manufacturers. In one embodiment, when building ascenario, a T.30 Interface Protocol library will be provided. The usercan select a MakeCall or SendFax Test Function for inclusion in a TestScenario. As with many test functions, the icon representing this TestFunction may be double clicked to display parameters. One of theseparameters may be a drop-down list of makes and models of various faxmachines that are emulated by the agent. In this manner, it is arelatively simple task to write a singe test scenario that would testthe new fax machine with hundreds of (emulated) fax machines fromdifferent manufacturers. Once the first test sequence is created andsaved as a Test Scenario file, the same file can be assigned to 199additional logical channels. The phone number to dial can be the samefor all of these channels. Next, the user would edit the SendFaxfunction of each individual channel to specify a separate faxmanufactuer/model for each each Logical Channel, so that all versionswould be selected. Next, using the Time Profile methodology describedabove, delays may so that execution of each Test Sequence begins after apredetermined time period, set to a value to ensure that all prior testsequences will completed. Alternatively, the technique described abovefor synchronizing between channels may be used. Either of theseapproaches will ensure that all channels do not call the new fax machineunder test simultaneously (otherwise, all but one of the calls wouldreceive a busy signal).

The same general methodology described above can also be used tosimulate other devices such as IP gateways.

The references listed below as well as all references cited in thisspecification are incorporated herein by reference to the extent thatthey supplement, explain, provide a background for or teach methodologyor techniques employed herein: U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,181, U.S. Pat. No.5,933,475, U.S. Pat. No. 5,761,272, U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,909, U.S. Pat.No. 5,546,453, U.S. Pat. No. 5,572,570, U.S. Pat. No. 6,201,853, U.S.Pat. No. 6,189,031, U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,277, U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,181,U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,633, U.S. Pat. No. 5,982,852, U.S. Pat. No.5,978,940, U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,475, U.S. Pat. No. 5,854,889, U.S. Pat.No. 5,761,272, U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,909, U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,285, U.S.Pat. No. 5,546,453, CST Getting Started Guide, G3 Nova Technology, Inc.Westlake Village, Calif. 91362 (2002), CST Result Manager User's Guide,G3 Nova Technology, Inc. Westlake Village, Calif. 91362, (2002), CSTReference Manual, G3 Nova Technology, Inc. Westlake Village, Calif.91362, (2002), CST Technical Information, G3 Nova Technology, IncWestlake Village, Calif. 91362 (2002).

It will be understood that various details of the invention may bechanged without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore,the foregoing description is for illustration only, and not for thepurpose of limitation, the invention being defined by the claims.

1. A communications platform testing system: wherein the communicationsplatform comprises a plurality of Communications Channels through whichtelephony communications pass via at least two different InterfaceProtocols; the communications platform testing system comprising: a TestScenario builder comprising means for defining a Test Function forcontrolling a first Communications Channel through which communicationsmay pass using a first Interface Protocol; means for defining a TestFunction for controlling a second Communications Channel through whichcommunications may pass using a second Interface Protocol; means forgraphically displaying icons representing Test Functions to be performedon the first and second Communications Channels, a first icon having anoutput area and a second icon having an input area; means for definingsynchronicity between the Test Functions of different CommunicationsChannels such that the execution of a Test Function of a secondCommunications Channel does not begin until completion of a TestFunction on the first Communications Channel; wherein the means fordefining synchronicity includes means for recognizing a cursor movementfrom the output area of the first icon to the input area of the secondicon, such that a connection between the output area of the first iconand the input area of the second icon is graphically displayed anExecution Manager that: sends Communications Channel control commands tothe communications platform in accordance with a Test Scenario, receivesinformation regarding a status of the communications platform inresponse to sending the Communications Channel control commands to thecommunications platform; and is responsive to a defined synchronizationbetween Test Functions in a Test Scenario for two differentCommunications Channels; and a Results Reporter operable to report thestatus of the plurality of Communications Channels during execution of aTest Scenario.
 2. A method of building a Test Scenario to be executed ona communications test system, the method comprising the steps of:displaying a first Test Function icon having an output area; associatingthe first Test Function icon with a first Communications Channel of acommunications platform to be tested, wherein in the firstCommunications Channel communicates via a first Interface Protocol andwherein telephony communications pass through the first CommunicationsChannel; displaying a second Test Function icon having an input area;associating the second Test Function icon with a second CommunicationsChannel of the communications platform to be tested, wherein in thesecond Communications Channel communicates via a second InterfaceProtocol and wherein the telephony communications pass through thesecond Communications Channel; and defining synchronicity between thefirst and second Test Function icons by recognizing a cursor movementfrom the output area of the first Test Function icon to the input areaof the second Test Function icon.
 3. The method of claim 2 furthercomprising the step of: graphically displaying a line representing thesynchronicity, the line connecting the output area of the first TestFunction icon to the input area of the second Test Function icon.